Renovation rules on Clarksville's campus

CLARKSVILLE — The Clarksville Fire Department's new headquarters and the nearby war memorial are nearly finished. And soon visitors will notice changes to the police headquarters and the parking lot.

All the changes are a part of recent renovations taking place on the town of Clarksville's campus, just off Veterans Parkway. A few years back, town officials were talking about selling the place. Now, the attitude seems to be geared more toward fixing it up.

The Clarksville Redevelopment Commission recently signed a new $85,400 contract related to some of the work with architectural firm Kovert Hawkins. About $1.7 million in new renovations -- not including the firehouse and war memorial -- are expected in the coming months.

POLICE EXPANSION

New offices for detectives, updated booking space and security upgrades in the records and radio areas are among renovations planned at the Clarksville Police Department.

Plans include an addition of about 2,500 square feet that would be added to the northeast corner of the building, allowing for the expansion of an existing training room, vehicle bay, storage room and equipment room. Redevelopment Commission President Bob Popp, also a town councilman, said the storage room will include space for each town department.

Popp said nearly every department -- especially the town court and clerk-treasurer's office -- expressed a need for more storage.

Existing detective areas will be renovated into separate offices with a corridor. An existing storage room would be renovated into a shift commanders' office. Booking areas would be updated to include a restraint bench, storage room and separate space for Breathalyzer tests.

Popp said the heating and air conditioning systems in the police building need repairs, though no estimates have been provided. In the town hall building, the air conditioning system needs repairs, as well. There's also floor tiles that need to be regrouted, he said. The Clarksville Police station was constructed along with Clarksville Town Hall, starting in 1994.

PARKING LOT

Outside of the buildings, improvements to the parking lot are also planned. Popp said about 60 spaces will be added, bringing the total to 169. The lot is shared by both buildings and used by employees and the visiting public.

In addition to adding more spaces, Popp said the lot will be repaved and reshaped to remove some of the close corners there.

"It's just pretty tight with the current curves," Popp said.

He estimates the work at about $300,000 but notes the town will have more information about the costs once engineers have wrapped up design.

FIREHOUSE

Construction of the new firehouse is supposed to be completed by May 23, as only finishing touches like flooring and painting remain to be completed. The $4.4 million building will replace an about 40-year old facility along Vaxter Avenue. The new building sits behind the town hall.

Construction started in late June 2011. Shepherdsville, Ky.-based E. H. Construction is the contractor.

The building will feature a training tower, a conference room big enough for 40 people, living quarters for both male and female firefighters and storage space. Four firefighters will be on duty there at all times and four administrators will be present as well.

WAR MEMORIAL

Upgrades to the town's war memorial should be complete by Memorial Day. The monument stands between the town hall and the new firehouse. Ground was broken on that project in November.

Benches capable of accommodating about 100 people are being added to the site. A pergola -- matching the design of the memorial -- will be erected over the benches, providing shade. The town will also expand grassy areas alongside the pergola to better accommodate ceremonies and salutes.

The memorial is about a $300,000 project. E. H. Construction is doing that work as well.

MORE COMING?

Town Council President John Gilkey said there are more improvements that need to be made in addition to the ones listed above. He said he would like to see an upgraded video and audio system in the town council chamber, so that visitors can both hear better and see the various maps, documents and photos discussed at meetings projected on monitors and screens.

"We're looking at an upgrade in that capacity," Gilkey said.

The Jeffersonville City Council has such equipment in its meeting chambers. Incidentally, Clarksville resident John Kruger was recently speaking during a Jeffersonville meeting and commented that his hometown needed such equipment, as well.

Further, Gilkey said the town needs to update its computer networks. The town actually has four Internet connections, all going into their own individual routers.

"It's been piecemealed. This really isn't the most efficient way to do it," he said.

Popp said those improvements would have to wait for now, as the price of the current police, parking renovations and HVAC work are coming in higher than initially expected.